He was already aware of the risks of the valuable ships he sailed on being preyed on by foreign navies, having been captured by a Franco-Spanish fleet in 1780 during the American War of Independence.

His greatest achievement came during the Napoleonic Wars, when having been appointed commodore of one of the company's fleets, he came across a French squadron under Counter-Admiral Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand Linois, which was raiding British shipping in the area.

Through skillful seamanship and aggressive tactics he fooled Linois into thinking that his convoy was escorted by powerful naval forces, and the French decided not to risk attacking Dance's fleet.

Having saved the convoy from almost certain destruction, Dance was hailed as a hero, lavishly rewarded with money and a knighthood, and spent the last years of his life in comfortable retirement.

[2] Elizabeth and her family were instead cared for by James's father and Nathaniel's paternal grandfather, George Dance the Elder, a prominent London architect.

[1][2] While making his ninth voyage to India as the first officer on Royal George, a combined Franco-Spanish fleet captured his ship in the action of 9 August 1780.

Not all of their listed armament was always carried, but to give the illusion of greater strength, fake gunports were often painted on the hulls, in the hope of distant observers mistaking them for 64-gun ships of the Royal Navy.

Dance sent some of his ships to investigate, and it was soon discovered that this was the squadron of French Counter-Admiral Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand Linois, consisting of the 74-gun Marengo, the two heavy frigates Sémillante and Belle Poule, the corvette Berceau, and the Dutch brig Aventurier.

[1][4] Having ascertained the identity of the ships Dance signaled for his merchants to form the line of battle, and continued their heading, while the French closed, but made no move to attack.

[14][15] The achievement of a convoy of merchants not only escaping without loss from a French squadron, but going so far as to attack, drive off, and then pursue their would-be predators, was widely hailed as a signal victory.

His conduct was worthy of the experience and science of our most approved and veteran Admirals, while the ardour and promptitude with which his orders were obeyed and his plans executed by the several Captains under his command, may have been rivalled, but can scarcely be exceeded in the most renowned of our naval exploits.